Screw conveyer



Sept. 16, 1952 R. L. BELDIN 2,610,727

SCREW CONVEYER -Fi16d NOV. 16, 1950 2 SHEETSSHEET l IN VEN T 0R; FA 564 .D//\/ R. L. BELDIN SCREW CONVEZYER Sept. 16, 1952' Filed NOV. 16, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 4 INVENTOR. K1 BEL D Patented Sept. 1 6, 1952 SCREW CONVEYER Royal L. Beldin, Davenport, Iowa, assignor to v Deere & Company, Moline, Ill., a corporation of I Illinois Application November 16, 1950, Serial No. 196,069 I 2 Claims. (01. 193- 213) This invention relates. to a material-handling machine and more particularly to an improved screw conveyor assembly. a q

The embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is particularly adapted for use in portable elevators of the type usedbn farms, for example, for the elevating of small grain and similar material. character, comprises a mobile base, normally including a wheeled axle, from which a support extends upwardly to carry a; screw. conveyor assembly that inclines upwardlyfrom a lower material-receiving end to an elevated materialdischarge end. The base structure normally includes a source of power, such as an internal combustion engine or electric motor, and appropriate meansis' provided for rotating the auger or screw of the conveyor assembly. In some instances, the source of power will be mounted at one end or the'other of the conveyor assembly. This mounting, although facilitating somewhat the provision of the drive between the motor and the auger, has the disadvantage of unbalancing the elevator, by making: one end materially heavier than the other. The central'or intermediate mounting of the. motor on the mobile base or support hasi -the advantage of positioning the motor where it will not affect the balance of the elevator, but such mounting has the disadvantage that it does not lend itself readily to the aplicationof satisfactory drive connections to one endor the other of the auger. It is further found that-the driving of the auger from one end or theother interferes with the functioning of the elevator, in transferring material. rial-receiving end, the ability. ofthe elevator to pick up small grain and other material is ad-i' versely affected. The samemay be said of a driving connection that -.-puts"power into theupper or material-discharge endilof the auger. In either of these instances, the application of power to one end or the other of theauger results in considerable twisting or wrapping of the auger, thus requiring that theauger be made sufficiently strong to withstand what may be considered to be even normal deformation.

According to the present inventiongall thea'dvantages of a central motor: mounting. are, utilized in conjunction with a .novel drive mechanism whereby the auger or screw. is driven from a point intermediate its ends, thus avoiding the use of long belts, shafts, "and other external power-transmitting means.- It'is a principal object of the invention to providea screw conveyL-l If thedrive is atgthe lower, mate-' A typical elevator. of this 2, or assembly in which the housing or tube has an opening through the wall thereof through which access may be had-for driving the auger from an external power source. A further object of the invention is to provide a novel housing assembly in which portions of the housing areprovided as a pair of coaxial-tubes arranged in end-to-end relationship with an enclosure.

structure serving to jointhe two tubular sections and in addition to, substantially completely enclose drive mechanism for the auger. Another object of the invention isto provide a connector in the form of an enclosure as, stated above and in addition to utilize a portion of the enclosure for the journaling of an intermediate or lay shaft for the vdriving mechanism.

The foregoing and other important objects and desirable features inherent in and encompassed by the invention will become apparent as a preferred embodiment of the invention is completely disclosed in the following "detailed description and accompanying sheets of drawings inwhich: I v

Figurel is an end elevational'view of the improved conveyor shown in the form of a portable small-grain elevator; I

Figure 2 is a side elevational view, partly in section, as seen along the line 2222 of Figure 1; I

Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of an lntermediate' 'portionof the screw conveyor assembly; I

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 3;

, Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view as seen along the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an exploded view of major comonents involved in theassembly of the sections of the conveyor;

Figure-7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, as seen along the line 1-1 of Figure 1, of part of the means for mounting the motor and for adjusting the conveyor tube on the mobile base;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view as seen along the line 8--8 of Figure '7;

Figure '9 is a face view of the improved drive wheel'orsprocket;-and

Figure 10 is a sectional view Ill-.40 of Figure 9.

The elevator or screw conveyor assembly shown has a mobile base I0 comprising a transverse axle and a. pair of wheels I2. An up- II, and, through the medium of means to be taken on the line presently described, carries at its upper end an upwardly inclined conveyor designated generally by the numeral l4.

The conveyor is in the form of a tubular housing made up of a plurality of coaxial tubes or tubular sections 15, I6, 11 and [8 (see Figure 3). The sections [5 and [6 have cooperating flanges l9 removably interconnected as by a plurality of bolts 20. The sections I! and I8 are similarly interconnected, as by cooperating flanges 2| and bolts 22. The interconnection of the coaxial tubes l6 and I1 is effected by means that will be described below.

In normal use of the elevator, the wheels l2 are supported on the ground. as is the lower or material-receiving end of the conveyor assembly l4, as shown at 23 in Figures 1 and 2. The conveyor inclines upwardly to a material-dis: charge end designated generally by the numeral 24. The conveyor assembly is completed by a rotatable screw or auger indicated in its entirety by the numeral 25. The lower end 23 of the conveyor assembly is in the form of a cage having a "bearing 26'for journaling the lower end of the auger or screw 25. The upper end 24 of the conveyor housing has a coaxial hearing 21 for journalingthe upper end of the screw. According to the present invention, the screw 25 is made up of a pair of coaxial auger or screw sections 28 and '29 wound respectively on coaxial shafts 30 and 3| that have their inner terminal ends proximate and axially spaced apart as shown'in Figure 3 The coaxial tubular sections I6 and I! have their proximate ends spaced apart axially as shown in Figure '3, to provide what may be termed a peripheral or circumferential slot 32 in the conveyor housing. This slot is radially alined with the space between the aproximate or inner ends of the shafts 30 and 3|. This slot is an important feature of the invention, because it accommodates the improved driving means for the auger or screw 25. The main components of, the drive include a' drive member inthel form ofa sprocket 33 having a hub 34. provided'at opposite sides with shaft-receiving'means 35 and 35 for respectively receiving the proximate ends of the screw shafts 30 and 3|. The hub thus provides a coupling between the shafts 30. and 3| and/the three elements 30, 3| and 33 are interconnected for rotation together by removable connecting pins 3! and 38.

The, drive member or sprocket 33v hasa circular body 39, the toothed periphery of which provides means for receiving, drive, from an external source, as will presently appear. The. circular body 33 has opposite radial faces providedfr espectively with, outwardly opening grooves 40 and 4|. These grooves cooperate respectively with the circular edges of the proximate ends of the tube sections [6 and, I! to providea material-tight seal; (Figure 3). The outside diameter of the drive member or sprocket 33 is, as shown, larger than the outer diameterof. the tubular housing made up of the sections I5, [6, I1 and [8. By this means, power may be.ap,- plied to the auger 25 intermediate its endsrather than at either of its ends as. heretofore known.

The tubes l6 and I!- are interconnected: by. a connector means designated generallyby the numeral 42. This connector serves, not only. as means for. completing the assembly. of the. conveyor l4 but also as means for mounting the conveyor on the upright, Supporting. structure I3.

Still further, the connector 42 serves to carry of the flanges and 49.

- 6 3 of the casing 5.5.

and to enclose parts of the driving mechanism, particularly enclosing the sprocket for the drive wheel 33.

This connector comprises a pair of complementary sections 43 and 44 respectively having flanges 45 and 46 (Figures 4 and 6) which may be secured together as by a plurality of bolts 41 to embrace the coaxial tubes 15 and I1. As best shown in Figure 3, the connector section 43 has a pair of coaxially spaced semi-circular flanges 48 and 49 that respectively embrace the upper portions of the tubes [6 and IT. This section further includes an intermediate and integral housing portion 50 of larger diameter than that The portion 50 is made larger to accommodate the increase in diameter of the sprocket 33 over the tubes is and H. The lower section 44 has coaxially spaced semi-circul'ar flanges 5| and 52 that respectively embrace lower portions of the tubes l6 and H and thus' complement the flanges 48 and 49 on the upper section 43. The lower section has a central or intermediate enlarged portion 53 which complements the enlarged central portion 50 of the upper section. The enlarged portion 53 of the lower section is cut out at 54 to provide an opening through which a portion of the sprocket 33 is visible. In other words, access may be had tothe'sprocket 33 through this opening.

The two sections 43 and 44 are assembled about the tubes l 6 and IT, as suggested in Figure 6, to give an assembly as shown in Figure 4. Added to the assembly is means for supporting the. connector 42 on the upright supporting structure I3. Part of this means comprises a casing orhousing 55 having bearings 56 and 51 for journalin a transverse'counter or lay shaft 58,. ,The casing 55 includes an integral extension portion 59. provided with a bearing 60 for supporting one end of a short shaft 6.! perpendicular to. the transverse. shaft 58. The otherend. portion. ,ofthe shaft BI is journaled in a second; bearing 62. that is coaxial with the bearing. 60 and, that is formed in an integral wall A bevel pinion 64 is pinned to the end of theshaft 6! adjacent the bearing 62, andisin constant mesh with a bevel pinion 65; opthetransverse. shaft 58. 1

The lower section of .the connector means 42 is provided with a plurality. of apertured depending. earsv 66. which, together with bolts 61 and cars 58 on the casing 55, mount the case rigidly; on the connector- 42. F

Power. is transmitted to. the sprocket 33 and thus. to. the. auger-'25 by means of the shaft 61 through the medium'of 'driving means including an external drive member in the form of a small sprocketifi pinned or keyed'to the shaft 6| intermediate its bearings 6 D and 62. Powertransmitting means such as an endless flexible element or chain 10 interconnects; or is trained aboutthe sprockets seam; as. This chain operates substantially within the enclosure afforded by-the-intermediate andcontinuous portions 5t! and 53of the connector-section 43 and 44, the chain passing through the opening 54 in the lower section 44.

The str-ucture just'described is mountedonthe upright support I3 by means comprising a pair ofz'upright members Hand 12- forming part of theu'pright support '13.- The' upper ends of the member's. "H and. 12 are formed respectively as bearings 13. and 14 to receive and journal'oppositeends of: the'transverse shaft 58 (Figure l).

The bearings l3 'and 14 are sufficiently largeto accommodate respectivelyintermediate bearings 15and5fl6. formed at the upper. ends of depending links, .llxand I8 for a motor support :havin a horizontal-base 19 on which-is carried a: source of power, here shown as an internal combustion engine 80., Details of the bearings 14 and 18 are shown in Figure 8. See also Figures 4' and TI.

The internal combustion engine 80 has a power output shaft 8| on which is keyed a sprocket 82. This sprocket is connected .by a chain 83 to a sprocket 84 keyed to the shaft 58 intermediate the bearing 13 and theic'asingf 55. Although the elevator or screw conveyor assembly I4 is capable of being pivoted about the shaft 58, the relationship of the drive will not change, since the motor support 1'I18'l9 is concentric with the sprocket 84 about the shaft 58. Independent of its pivotal adjustment about the center at 58, the elevator assembly I4 is capable of being raised or lowered on the supporting structure I3. This result is accomplished by means of a crank 85 connected to a Windlass 86 carried on the upright member I2. A cable 81 is wound on this Windlass and passes upwardly and then downwardly about a sheave 88 at the upper end of the member I2. The cable passes thence about the sheave 89 on the bearing I4 and transversely across to a sheave 90 on the bearing 73 of the opposite upright member II, The cable passes thence upwardly about a sheave 9I at the upper end of the member II and thence downwardly to an anchor point 92 on the bearing I3. The means for adjusting the elevator relative to the upright supporting structure I3 maintains the relative position of the screw conveyor I4 and the motor or internal combustion engine 80.

A further feature of the invention resides in the internal supporting of the proximate ends of the auger or screw shafts 38 and 3| from the connector means 42. The manner in which the bearings or supports are provided is best shown in Figures 3 and 6, wherein it will be seen that the upper section 43 of the connector 42 has a pair of axially spaced depending bearing hangers 93 and 94 which straddle the hub 34 of the sprocket 33. These hangers are preferably integrally formed with the flanges 48 and 49 on the connector section 43. The tubes I6 and H are respectively apertured at 95 and 98 to respectively receive the hangers 93 and 94 when the assembly is made. (See Figure 6.) As best shown in Figure 5, each of the bearing hangers has a section as illustrated, thus affording a shape which does not interfere with the material flow as material is propelled by the auger 25 from the end 23 to the end 24 of the screw conveyor assembly,

In this respect, it is a still further feature of the invention to provide material-impelling means on the sprocket 33. This means may take the form of one or more material-engaging elements or blades 91, each preferably in the'form of the section of a spiral or helix. The auger sections 28 and 29 have the same directional spiral and preferably the same pitch, The same is true of the helical section means 91 on the sprocket 33. The sprocket is of spoked construction as shown in Figure 9 and the spokes, illustrated at 98, are formed as shown in Figure 10 to facilitate the flow of material. The sprocket thus is of open construction at its center.

The mounting of the screw conveyor assembly I4 on the mobile base I0 is completed by a pair of diagonal brace members 99, which is a construction that is generally conventional.

. :fThe assembly of the tubular sectionsiand the connector 42;,may proceed as follows: Theyliwo tubes I8 and I1 may-be. arrangedas shown in Figure 3 with the sprocket 33 therebetwe'en. The upper and lower sections of the connector 42 are then assembled. The auger sections 28 and 29 are introducedin'to the i-assemblyfrom opposite directions and the auger shafts 38 and 3| are pinned at 31 and 38 to the hub 34 ofthe sprocket. Since the tubes I5 and I8 will notbe in place, the person "making the assembly may reach through the flanged ends of the tubes I6 and II to insert the pins 31 and 38. The tubes I'5 and I8 are then assembled from opposite ends respectively and connected at Ill-20 and 2I22. The casing 55 may then be assembled; or it may have been assembled previously, since it does not in any event interfere with the assembly of the sections I5 and I8. The entire assembly I4 may then be mounted on the upright structure I3, the motor support 'I1-1 8-19 having been previously mounted on the shaft 58, and the bearings 15 and I8 are respectively received by the bearings 13 and 14. The remaining components of the elevator are assembled and adjusted and the elevator is ready for use and operation.

Inasmuch as the drive is concentrated at the central portion of the conveyor assembly and is located above the wheels I2 of the mobile base III, the balance of the elevator is not affected and conventional external complicated driving mechanisms are eliminated. The sprocket 33 affords no interference to the flow of material length- .wise of the assembly I4, since it is provided with the helical means91. The bearing hangers 93 and 94, as previously stated, are formed to present as little as possible interference with material flow.

Other features and advantages of the invention not specifically enumerated herein will undoubtedly occur to those versed in the art, as likewise will numerous modifications and alterations in the preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed, all of which may be achieved without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A screw conveyor, comprising: a pair of tubes positioned in coaxial end-to-end relation with their proximate ends spaced apart, each tube having an opening through its wall adjacent its end that is proximate to the other tube; a pair of coaxial shaft means respectively within the tubes and having proximate ends generally radially alined with the spaced ends of the tubes; a drive member having a circular body of larger diameter than at least one of the tubes and a hub having coaxial shaft-receiving means at opposite sides thereof, said member being positioned in the space between the ends of the tubes and concentrically therewith, the body of the member extending radially outwardly through said space and the proximate ends of the shaft means being received respectively in said shaft-receiving means of the hub; a connector outside the tube spanning the drive member and connected to the tubes for interconnecting the tubes; and said connector having a pair of supports thereon projecting respectively through the aforesaid openings in the tube and respectively journalling the shaft means.

2. The invention defined in claim 1, further characterized in that: each shaft carries a helical conveyor and the helices of the conveyors are 7 wound in the same direction'yem'd each or the supports on the connector is shaped as a. section as the Conveyor helix to facilitate material now put said support.

ROYAL L. BELDIN.

7 REFERENCES crmn "The following fetxencesmte of record in the map! this patent:

UNITED s'ryvfrsis PATENTS Number V Name Date .1,032,850 Mount V;' July 16, 1912 Number zgoso sss 1,375,711 1,560,203 2,064,283 2,163,145 2,224'Q991 2,483,290

umb 7 565L632 

